Sell Ribery or keep him, but do it now! Bayern's Kaiser chief speaks out

08 June 2009 11:11

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Franck Ribery is unsure whether his future lies at Bayern Munich amid speculation he could soon join Real Madrid.
New Real president Florentino Perez has made Ribery one of his priority signings for the close season, while the France winger has also been linked with several other leading European clubs.
Ribery refused to dampen the transfer talk when he appeared on French TV programme Telefoot yesterday (Sunday).
'I will see how my situation is going to develop.
'Honestly, I don't know - my situation isn't easy to deal with,' the former Marseille winger said.
'I am under contract until 2011 with Bayern, I am fine over there. I'm not someone who likes to clash - I have spent two good years at Bayern.
'We will see how everything turns out.'
Meanwhile, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer has called for the future of Ribery to be decided one way or another to prevent a long-running soap opera this summer.
As well as Real Madrid, Ribery has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, but Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has sent out mixed signals by first claiming he was not for sale at any price and then expressing his willingness to speak to new Real president Florentino Perez.
Beckenbauer wants the issue resolved, either by signing Ribery to a new contract or selling him.
'I can see only two solutions: Ribery extends his contract so the issue is dealt with or we release him,' he said. 'I rate Ribery alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best footballers in the world at present,' he added in the Bild newspaper.
'If he were to leave, it would be the second huge loss for the Bundesliga after Diego (Werder Bremen to Juventus).
'However, if Ribery wants to leave, then it will be hard for us to keep hold of him.'
Nevertheless, Beckenbauer does not believe Bayern's world would fall apart without the 26-year-old.
'So many so-called irreplaceable players have gone yet football has still moved on,' he said.
'Obviously it would be a shame, though, and it is hard to imagine Bayern being better without Ribery.'
Real are believed to be preparing a bid which would tempt Bayern's new Dutch coach Louis van Gaal by offering his two compatriots Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder together with a sizeable sum.